HomeMy WebLinkAboutHighlights2022-09-13Q
City Commission Meeting Highlights
Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 5 p.m. at City Hall
To view the entire meeting visit baps: / / youtu. be/ Z3xGN00D�Mk.
Former City Commissioner Zana Renfro
Mayor George Bray was saddened to hear that former City and County Commissioner Zana Renfro recently passed away.
Mayor Bray called Renfro "a true local patriot" for her service to the community. Renfro served as City Commissioner in the
1990s.
City Block Project Update
Weyland Ventures CEO Mariah Gratz updated the Paducah Board of Commissioners on the City Block project and showed
the latest site plan and concept images. The project is bounded by Broadway, Water Street, North 2nd, and Jefferson Street.
The first phase for this transformative project for downtown Paducah involves the construction of an 81 -room boutique hotel
along Jefferson Street and public parking, greenspace, and facility improvements in the center of the block. The hotel will
include two restaurants and retail space on the first floor with a rooftop bar. Weyland is in conversations with local
restauranteurs. A future 70 -unit residential unit which includes some retail space is planned for the side of the block along
Broadway. Weyland's goal is to minimize holiday shopping disruption for downtown and plans to break ground on the
construction in January. Hotel construction will take approximately 14 months with an opening expected in spring 2024.
Property Tax Levy — Lower for Fiscal Year 2023
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance setting the real estate and personal property tax rates for fiscal
year 2023. A property tax levy public hearing was held prior to the ordinance introduction. The City's real estate tax levy is
proposed to be 26.5 cents per $100 assessed value, slightly LESS than last year's rate of 27.1 cents.
The City's Compensating Rate, the rate that would keep the revenue at the same amount as last year, is 25.5 cents per $100
assessed value. Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) permits a city to adjust the rate upward by not more than 4 percent of the
compensating rate. Since the City's proposed tax levy of 26.5 cents is 4 percent greater than the compensating rate, a public
hearing was required.
Memorandum of Understanding with ViWinTech Windows & Doors
The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ViWinTech Windows & Doors, Inc. for an economic
development incentive, linked to the creation of new jobs, of up to $172,000 to assist with the demolition costs of the blighted
property at 2301 Irvin Cobb Drive. Earlier this year, the owners of ViWinTech purchased the former Residential Care Center
on Irvin Cobb Drive with plans to demolish the building and build a new facility to expand Paducah operations. ViWinTech
is a significant employer in the Southside at its facility across the street at 2400 Irvin Cobb Drive. ViWinTech has received
financial support from the Kentucky Economic Cabinet to expand its facility and employee base with an agreement to employ
40 new full-time employees by 2026.
Transfer of Property at 420 South 131h Street to Paducah School System
The Board approved a Municipal Order to transfer a portion of the City -owned property at 420 South 13d' Street to the
Paducah School System. This property, the current Midtown Golf Course, is adjacent to the soccer field owned and
maintained by the school district. The district approached the City requesting a donation of a portion of the property to
develop additional athletic fields and parking. The development of this site will include a youth soccer field, a practice field for
the high school program, and parking.
Grants Update
City of Paducah Grants Administrator Hope Reasons provided an update of the current grant applications. During the fourth
quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, which was April through June, eight grant applications were submitted requesting more than
$1,060,000. During that same time, six grants were awarded totaling $575,500. Looking at the past year, the City has
Communications Manager Pam Spencer
City of Paducah • P.O. Box 2267 • Paducah, Kentucky 42002
Phone: 270-444-8669 Website: htW://12aducahky.gov Email: psoencer&12aducahky.gov
requested nearly $2 million in grant funding with nearly $900,000 awarded so far. Grants that the City has received and are in
the administration stage total nearly $18 million which include the BUILD and ARPA grants.
The Board also approved the following municipal orders related to grants:
• Approval of the 2023 Litter Abatement Grant application through the Kentucky Division of Waste Management.
• Approval of the U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant application. The City in
partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Paducah School System is applying for $17 million
that would be used to redesign and improve the vehicular and pedestrian safety of the Buckner Lane/Broadway and
Lone Oak Rd/Labelle Avenue intersection with improvements to 32nd street and Buckner Lane to better
accommodate traffic flow. This is the area near the Coke Plant. KYI'C District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat said the
area has had more than 100 crashes in the past ten years.
• Approval to accept the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $237,272.72 with the funds to be
used for bailout kits for firefighters and exhaust systems for each of the City's five fire stations.
West Kentucky Regional Job Fair Summary
Business Services Liaison Mary Anne Medlock with the West Kentucky Workforce Board updated the Commission on the
success of the August 23 West Kentucky Regional Job Fair. The City of Paducah was one of the Fair's sponsors and
participants. Medlock said this was the largest fair she has coordinated regarding the number of participating employers.
Approximately 400 job seekers attended the Fair that had 106 employers and service agencies represented. Of the employers,
90 percent said that the Fair helped them network with potential employees. Plus, 38 percent of the employers conducted
interviews that day.
Boards and Commissions:
• Approval of the reappointment of Jeff Holland to the Paducah -McCracken County Riverport Authority Board.
• Approval of the appointment of Brian Shemwell, Jessica Rumsey, Whitney Ravellette Wallace, and Craig Newbern to
the Paducah Main Street Board.
Additional Meeting Information
• Mayor Bray presented to Michelle Batcher and members of the Paducah Chapter, Daughters of the American
Revolution, a proclamation proclaiming the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week. September 17 marks the
2351h anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States by the Constitutional Convention.
• Mayor Bray proclaimed September as City Government Month. Mayor Bray invites elementary students to share
what they find to be beautiful in Paducah or how they will help make their community beautiful. Learn more at
http: / /12aducahky.gov/news /paducah-celebrates-cid-government-month-september-2022.
• Municipal Order approved for the declaration and sale of city -owned surplus property at 1223 Salem Avenue.
• Municipal Order approved to initiate a request for proposals (RFP) for services related to the development of a joint
City -County Comprehensive Plan.
• Ordinance approved to close an alley north of George Street between South 3rd Street and South 411, Street; the closure
of an alley south of Husband Street between South 3rd and South 41h streets, and a portion of the east side of South 4th
Street. These closures are requested by the adjacent property owners.
Communications Manager Pam Spencer
City of Paducah • P.O. Box 2267 • Paducah, Kentucky 42002
Phone: 270-444-8669 Website: htW://12aducahky.gov Email: psoencer&12aducahky.gov